Scenic Drives – Soledad Canyon Road

Soledad Canyon Road

This road runs from Santa Clarita to Acton, passing through the scenic and undeveloped Soledad Canyon. The name comes from the Spanish word for solitude. It is a major route for birds and other wildlife. The scenic section begins after the Hwy 14 bridge near Lang Station Road. In 1876, the Southern Pacific railroad line was completed through this canyon and now serves as a commuter line, Metrolink, to the Antelope Valley.

Soledad Canyon Narrows west of the tunnel.The tunnel. Built in 1938, it was rehabilitated in 1953.1936 Santa Clara River Bridge. Looking west. This bridge has a wooden decking with concrete pier supports.Another view of the bridge.Stone drainage work from the 1930’s.Store and road cut a few miles east of Agua Dulce Canyon Road.Looking west from the eastern Santa Clara River bridge.Upper Soledad Canyon, past the eastern Santa Clara River bridge.Original railing near Crown Valley Road.View of the junction of Crown Valley Road (left) and Soledad Canyon Road (right) from the slopes of Parker Mountain.Approaching Acton from the west. Soledad winds its way below Parker Mountain.Approaching Acton from the east. Parker Mountain is in the background.

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A few months ago, I decided to purchase a new domain in the anticipation of moving to northern California. Whether or not that move takes place, I still own that domain. As such, this site may be expanding in scope to cover a few more counties. The new site, NorCalRegion.Com, is still a work in progess, but will cover highways and geology in the northern half of the state. Where that line will be drawn is still being worked out. Look for updates in the coming months for these changes and expansions.

There is a group in Bakersfield trying to get historic route signs posted on the original alignment of US 99 through the Bakersfield area. They could use your support. Check out the site below for more information.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has a wealth of information available on their website. With a bit of patience and some looking around, you can find quite a few treasures using their mapping application. I’ve so far found the original survey data for the “Bridge To Nowhere” roadway, plans for other roadways that were never built in the Sierra Pelona Mountains, as well as the forest service permit for the Shoemaker Canyon Road that was never completed.